There’s no question that tolling one of Indiana’s interstates could generate serious cash to help maintain the state’s roads. But are taxpayers willing to pay a few bucks to travel highways that now are free?
A measure that would finance improvements to Indiana's transportation infrastructure by raising cigarette and gasoline taxes was approved by a House transportation committee Wednesday.
The bill would provide one-time funding from reserve funds that are set aside when the state distributes shares of income taxes to local governments.
The condition of Indiana's roads has emerged as a major issue. There is a major division among majority Republicans over how to handle the funding, with Pence and the Senate leaders signaling they are at odds with their counterparts in the House.
Gov. Mike Pence’s plan differs sharply with a longer-term plan offered Monday by Indiana House Republicans, who want to raise gasoline and cigarette taxes to boost funding levels for road improvements.
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma said Gov. Mike Pence and Senate Republicans should embrace a long-term road-funding plan that increases taxes on smokers and motorists.
Republican leaders in the Indiana Senate would like to give $418 million to local governments to help improve their roads—a proposal that comes after Gov. Mike Pence was criticized for leaving local road funding out his recent infrastructure plan.
The newest section of the Interstate 69 extension through southwestern Indiana opened Wednesday, allowing drivers for the first time to travel between Evansville and Indianapolis through Bloomington using only multi-lane highways.
The city of Fishers has agreed to take control of part of State Road 37 during the design and construction phases of a $124 million project designed to relieve congestion on the busy highway, local and state officials announced Thursday.
The $70 million project will add the additional lanes for more than 10 miles from near U.S. 30 in Merrillville to at least the Indiana 2 interchange near the Lake County town of Lowell.
Congress has dedicated the money to Indiana roads and bridges as part of a 5-year, $281 billion compromise over transportation spending. The measure also includes $500 million for public transit in Indiana.
Businesses along the State Road 37 corridor are forming a group to gather information about a proposed $124 million highway-redesign project and create a unified voice.
Meanwhile, proposed routes for the final leg of I-69 between Martinsville and Indianapolis have some residents fearful of what could happen to their homes.
Traffic signal intersections along a portion of State Road 37 in Hamilton County could be converted into roundabout-overpasses under a $124 million proposal expected to be released Dec. 10.
Indiana highway officials are set to present new details about five preliminary routes for the final section of the Interstate 69 extension south of Indianapolis during public meetings this week.
State highway officials say they're not ready to say when the latest section of southern Indiana's Interstate 69 extension will open to traffic.
The key question is what the Indiana Legislature can do in a short or non-budget-making session, which will convene in January.
The Indiana Department of Transportation has selected Columbus-based Milestone Contractors and Indianapolis-based United Consulting Engineers and Architects for an $85 million project to widen the busy interstate through much of Hamilton County.
The leader of minority Democrats in the Indiana House is calling for an additional $2 billion in road funding in a bid to outdo Gov. Mike Pence's call for more highway spending.
A new system will provide semitrailer drivers on Interstates 65, 70 and 94 with current information on safer places to park their rigs than highway ramps and rest area shoulders.
